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Floxapen Capsules/Suspension

Floxapen is used to treat bacterial infections such as infections of the skin, chest and throat. It works by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria that cause the infection.

How does it work?

Floxapen capsules contain the active ingredient flucloxacillin. Floxapen belongs to a group of antibiotics called penicillins. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Floxapen works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to form cell walls. The cell walls of bacteria are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering their cells and stop the contents of their cells from leaking out. Floxapen impairs the bonds that hold the bacterial cell wall together. This allows holes to appear in the cell walls and kills the bacteria.

When bacteria become resistant to penicillin antibiotics, it is because they produce an enzyme called penicillinase. This enzyme breaks down the penicillin and makes it ineffective at killing the bacteria. Floxapen is not affected by this enzyme. This means it is used primarily to treat infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to other penicillin-type antibiotics.

To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to Floxapen your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the throat or skin, or a urine or blood sample.

How do I take it?

The dose of this medicine and how long it needs to be taken for depends on the type and severity of infection you have, your age, weight and kidney function. Follow the instructions given by your doctor. These will be printed on the dispensing label that your pharmacist has put on the packet of medicine.

Floxapen is usually taken four times a day (every six hours), but follow the instructions given by your doctor. You should try to space the doses evenly throughout the day.

Floxapen should be taken on an empty stomach, which means either half an hour to an hour before food or two hours after food.

The capsules should be swallowed with liquid.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.

Alcohol

Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.

In the case of Floxapen:

there are no known interactions between alcohol and Floxapen

Side-effects

A medicine is only made available to the public if the clinical trials have shown that the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh the risks.

Once a medicine has been licensed, information on the medicine's effects, both intended and unintended, is continuously recorded and updated.

Some side-effects may be serious while others may only be a mild inconvenience.

Everyone's reaction to a medicine is different. It is difficult to predict which side-effects you will have from taking a particular medicine, or whether you will have any side-effects at all. The important thing is to tell your prescriber or pharmacist if you are having problems with your medicine.

Taking other medicines

If you are taking more than one medicine they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.

The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.

Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.

The following medicines may interact with Floxapen:

probenecid

The following types of medicine may interact with Floxapen:

oral contraception

If you are taking Floxapen and one of the above medicines or types of medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.

Breast-feeding

Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.

In the case of Floxapen:

you should only take this medicine while breast-feeding if your doctor thinks you need it

Before you take Floxapen you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. They will help you decide what is best for you and your baby based on the benefits and risks associated with this medicine. You should only breast-feed your baby while taking this medicine on the advice of your doctor or midwife.

How to store Floxapen

Store flucloxacillin oral liquid in a refrigerator and do not use it after the expiry date shown on the label.

If you have any more questions please ask your pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children

Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.